Tas. 6731, 
DECAISNEA insients. 
Native of the Hastern Himalaya. 
Nat. Ord. Berpertpex.—Tribe LarDIzaBALER. 
Genus Decatsnna, Hook. f. et Thoms.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. i. p. 42.) 
DeEcalsnEa insignis; frutex erectus glaberrimus polygamo-dioicius, caulibus strictis | 
parum divisis ramis apices versus foliosis, follis elongatis impari-pinnatis 
petiolo terete gracili, foliolis petiolulatis ovatis v. elliptico-lanceolatis acuminatis 
integerrimis subtus glaucis, racemis elongatis patentibus, floribus pendulis 
viridibus, sepalis 6 lanceolatis acuminatis, petalis 0, fl. @, staminibus 6 
filamentis in columnam elongatam connatis, antheris adnatis connectivo in 
processum rostratum erectum producto, fl. 2 carpellis 3 basi staminibus 6 
 Imperfectis liberis stipatis, fructus carpellis 3 cylindraceis patenti-recurvis 
rugosis carnosis polyspermis. 
D. insignis, Hook, f. et Thoms. in Proc. Linn, Soc. 1854, et in Fl. Ind, vol. i. 
p. 213; Hook. f. Ill. Him. Pl, t. 10, et in Fl. Brit. Ind. vol. i, p. 107. 
Suackta insignis, Griff. Itin, Notes, 187 (n. 977). — 
The subject of the present plate is one of the most 
remarkable of Indian botanical discoveries, both in structure 
and appearance, and is further notable as yielding an edible 
fruit. With the habit of an Araliaceous plant, it exhibits 
the characters of the tribes Berberew and Lardizabalee, 
whilst differmg from both in several important points. 
That its nearest affinity is with Lardizabalew is shown by 
its unisexual flowers, monadelphous stamens with anthers 
opening by longitudinal slits, its three carpels and many 
seeds; whilst it differs from all others of the tribe in its 
erect habit, racemose inflorescence, pinnate leaves, and 
from most of them in the placentation being sutural. 
Amongst Berberee the habit recalls the Mahonia section of 
Berberis, with this difference, that the wood of Decaisnea 
is singularly soft and brittle, and the leaves herbaceous 
and deciduous, both petiole and leaflets being jointed at 
F Le) 
r 
He the base. | 
 Decaisnea is a native of the humid forests of Sikkim and 
Bhotan, at elevations of 7900 to 9000 feet above the sea; 
it was discovered in 1838 in the former country by Griffith, 
_ gayvary Isr, 1884, 
